Cheyenna Ames, 15 (soon to turn 16 on May 1), stopped by the Moberly Monitor-Index Thursday afternoon (April 4) with her father, Randy — a former MMI employee.

The cute little girl with long flowing hair and the charming smile we remember so fondly had not changed much; just gotten taller.

Cheyenna was born with Cystic Fibrosis. She has spent many days of her life in hospitals, and that is where she was in March — in St. Louis, at Cardinal Glennon hospital — when Andi Sumpter, a senior at Moberly High School, started something special for Cheyenna. Knowing Cheyenna loves Taylor Swift, Andi started a school- and area-wide campaign so Cheyenna could actually meet Taylor Swift at her concert in St. Louis.

Signs, T-shirts, contacting various media, and everyone working together helped get the word out, plus Cheyenna got 16,000 views on her YOUTUBE video to Taylor Swift. The video was filmed one night in her hospital room.

Cheyenna was really sick, spending five weeks in the hospital, getting 10 days out, and then going back in for 26 more days.

She was released the night of the concert, and got to meet her idol, Taylor Swift, in person. It was for only a couple of minutes, but those minutes were precious.

“It was fun,” said Cheyenna. She professes to like all of Taylor Swift’s music, but likes “the old stuff better.” She has noticed Taylor’s outfits have changed a lot and says she likes Taylor’s beautiful dresses better than her skinny jeans.

Cheyenna loves baseball – especially Derek Jeter with the New York Yankees (who tweeted her during the movement); Taco Bell and China Garden; everything about school; her dog, Dodger; and being home.

Cheyenna truly appreciates the community wide effort, resulting in her meeting Swift.